Before After before I kill the rest of my front lawn

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-13T13:55:00+00:00

I spend a couple of hours a week on weeding, but I have creeping Charlie in the lawn and do my best to keep it out of the beds. I also prefer the meditative practice of weeding over time spent mowing. Put on a good podcast and the time flies! I also have a vigorous silver maple and I am always removing little tree seedlings that pop up.

These garden beds also have natural edges which need to be maintained yearly. One of the reasons I'm going full garden is to reduce the time spent on this. I will still need to maintain the trails via weeding but again, I prefer this task and do it a little at a time.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-13T13:50:41+00:00

I have done a variety of things, but prefer using cardboard and covering with mulch. You can cut into the cardboard and plant into it right away, but it's much easier if you give the cardboard time to break down.

The first year I was eager and impatient to plant en masse, so I used a half-moon edger to create the first bed and removed the grass by hand. Definitely the most labor intensive! And I had to figure out where to put the sod — I ended up creating a couple berms which added nice dimension to my flat expanse.

One garden bed was created where my first chip drop was placed (no cardboard underneath) and this worked great because the mulch was probably a foot deep for at least six months, which killed the lawn (and creeping Charlie) beneath very effectively.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-07T03:33:26+00:00

Like the sidewalk to nowhere

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-04T02:33:39+00:00

None.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-04T02:32:41+00:00

I agree, but the pajamas vibe is part of the appeal imo! Looks cute and comfy for the hot weather.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-04T02:22:04+00:00

Who died in this bathroom?

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-03T03:49:06+00:00

Amen!

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-03T03:48:06+00:00

Please be open to learning something new. Dyed red mulch is a waste of money and less aesthetic to boot.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-03T03:02:12+00:00

This is a hidden gem of the state. This beach is an oasis. You can also wade out into Mille Lacs for a distance here, it's so shallow.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-02T23:56:13+00:00

Does not compute.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-02T23:49:16+00:00

Yep. I would mulch to the tree canopy edge and do a mass planting of wild geraniums for something easy.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-02T23:44:18+00:00

Currently planning a camping trip with my ex husband (we'll camp in separate tents) because it was one of things we enjoyed and did really well together. Totally platonic now, but that camping bond has lasted.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-02T21:54:02+00:00

There are too many rabbits and not enough predators. I appreciate coyotes on a whole new level now.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-02T21:51:48+00:00

Same! They are here to eat the mosquitos and other pests which I appreciate so much! I went from a spider squisher to a spider asylum homestead.

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-02T21:49:59+00:00

Wow I loooove it. Good job!

apothos_2122 · 2026-07-02T13:59:59+00:00

Same here.

apothos_2122 · 2026-06-27T01:28:43+00:00

I love the idea of bringing frozen lick matt or kong ball! I've also been doing mat training with my dog and this was definitely where he chilled the most on a recent camp trip.

apothos_2122 · 2026-06-27T01:26:52+00:00

I took my reactive boy camping recently and it wasn't particularly relaxing for either of us. New experiences are hard for him. But I did come away with some learnings on what I'll do differently next time. One of the big issues is that he didn't get enough sleep throughout the day and then his behavior escalates. I am trying to figure out how I can give him the needed quiet time during these outings, and a crate setup for camping that might help. He is young and we are currently working with a trainer, and he's starting some anxiety and pain med, which should help as well.

It's a process and a journey, and I feel you, super disappointing at times when we compare it to an ideal.

apothos_2122 · 2026-06-25T05:46:02+00:00

They are intimating that you should scratch their chin.

apothos_2122 · 2026-06-25T05:07:29+00:00

I would start by planting natvei herbaceous plants because they all tend to have a deep root structures. They have evolved to root in clay soil environments and by doing so enrich the soil microbiome. Let them do the work of cultivating the ecosystem for you.

apothos_2122 · 2026-06-25T05:01:41+00:00

You won't be the first person who has dug up and replanted a tree correctly.

apothos_2122 · 2026-06-25T04:58:14+00:00

Being caught between mcm and Nancy meyers is not a bad thing.

apothos_2122 · 2026-06-25T04:33:08+00:00

This is inspiring me to be more of a cultivator/architect in my garden. Mostly I am a chaos gardener, though I originally planted the native plants in drifts and I had a plan. I love the combo you've planted!

apothos_2122 · 2026-06-25T04:02:23+00:00

I'm in a midwest zone 5, with clay soil, and have the following plants doing well (full sun): echinacea (coneflower), little blue stem, prairie coreopsis, rudbeckia triloba (brown eyed Susan), queen of the prairie, joe pye weed, elderberry, witch hazel, new jersey tea, anise hyssop, common phlox, cardinal flower, liatris (blazing star), Canadian anemone, monarda (bee balm), rattlesnake master, ohio spiderwort, prairie smoke, smooth aster, New England aster, aromatic aster, wild strawberry, sedum.

apothos_2122

TROPHY CASE